If you’re asking ‘what is best telescope to buy,’ you’re not alone. It’s the first question every new stargazer has, and the answer isn’t the same for everyone. The best telescope for you depends on what you want to see, where you’ll use it, your budget, and how much complexity your willing to handle. This guide will cut through the confusion and help you find the perfect match.
What Is Best Telescope To Buy
There is no single “best” telescope. Instead, the best telescope is the one you’ll use most often. A huge, complex instrument that’s a pain to set up will gather dust. A simple, easy-to-use scope that gets you outside under the stars is the real winner. We’ll break down the options so you can make a smart choice.
Understanding the Three Main Telescope Types
All telescopes fall into three main optical designs. Each has strengths and weaknesses.
Refractor Telescopes
These use lenses to bend light to a focus. They look like a long, straight tube.
- Pros: Low maintenance (sealed tube), sharp, high-contrast views ideal for the moon and planets, simple to use.
- Cons: More expensive per inch of aperture, can get long and bulky, some show color fringes (chromatic aberration).
- Best for: Beginners, lunar and planetary observers, those in urban areas, people who want a grab-and-go scope.
Reflector Telescopes (Newtonians)
These use mirrors to gather and focus light. The eyepiece is on the side near the top.
- Pros: Most affordable per inch of aperture, excellent for deep-sky objects (galaxies, nebulae), no color fringes.
- Cons: Open tube requires occasional mirror alignment (collimation), bulkier, views can be less contrasty than refractors for planets.
- Best for: Deep-sky enthusiasts, those on a budget, observers under dark skies.
Compound Telescopes (Catadioptrics: Schmidt-Cassegrains & Maksutov-Cassegrains)
These use a combination of mirrors and lenses, folding the light path into a compact tube.
- Pros: Very portable and compact for their aperture, versatile for all types of objects, often go-to computerized mounts.
- Cons: More expensive, narrower field of view than reflectors, can have longer cooldown times.
- Best for: Astrophotographers, those who need portability, intermediate to advanced users, planetary and deep-sky.
The Most Important Spec: Aperture
Aperture is the diameter of the main lens or mirror. It’s the most important number.
- Why it matters: A larger aperture gathers more light. More light means brighter, clearer, and more detailed views. You can see fainter galaxies and more detail on planets.
- The trade-off: Bigger aperture usually means a bigger, heavier, and more expensive telescope.
- Beginner Sweet Spot: A 70mm to 90mm refractor or a 114mm to 150mm (4.5″ to 6″) reflector are excellent starting points.
The Mount is Half the Telescope
A wobbly mount ruins the experience. The mount holds the scope steady and lets you point it.
Alt-Azimuth Mount
Moves up-down (altitude) and left-right (azimuth). It’s like a camera tripod.
- Simple and intuitive.
- Great for visual observing, especially for beginners.
- Less ideal for tracking objects for long-exposure astrophotography.
Equatorial Mount
Aligned with Earth’s axis, it moves in right ascension and declination.
- Once aligned, you can track celestial objects smoothly with one knob.
- Essential for serious astrophotography.
- Has a steeper learning curve and is often heavier.
Go-To Computerized Mount
Can be either Alt-Az or Equatorial. It has a motorized system and database.
- You select an object, and the telescope slews to it automatically.
- Fantastic for finding faint objects quickly.
- Adds significant cost, requires power, and needs an initial alignment procedure.
Step-by-Step: How to Choose Your Best Telescope
Step 1: Set a Realistic Budget. Include everything: the optical tube, mount, a couple of extra eyepieces, and maybe a planisphere or book. Don’t spend it all on a huge tube with a flimsy mount.
Step 2: Define Your Primary Interest. Be honest with yourself.
- Mostly the Moon and planets? Prioritize sharp, high-contrast optics (refractor or Maksutov).
- Faint galaxies and nebulae? Maximize aperture with a reflector.
- A bit of everything? A mid-sized compound scope (Schmidt-Cassegrain) is a great all-rounder.
Step 3: Assess Your Portability Needs. Where will you observe?
- Your light-polluted backyard? Size/weight matters less.
- Need to carry it to a dark-sky site? Compactness is key. A bulky 10″ dob is amazing but won’t fit in a small car easily.
Step 4: Consider Ease of Use.
- Total beginner? A simple refractor on an alt-az mount or a Dobsonian reflector (a reflector on a simple rocker box) is perfect.
- Technically inclined? A Go-To scope might be a fun starting point.
- Willing to learn collimation? Reflectors open up great value.
Step 5: Ignore Useless Magnification Claims. Boxes that say “600x power!” are misleading. Useful magnification is limited by aperture and atmospheric conditions. 300x is often the practical max for most nights. A quality scope with a 100x-150x capability will show you wonders.
Top Telescope Recommendations by Category
Best Overall Beginner Telescope: 6″ or 8″ Dobsonian Reflector
It offers the most aperture for your money on a dead-simple, stable mount. You’ll see incredible detail on planets and hundreds of deep-sky objects. It’s a visual observer’s workhorse with minimal fuss.
Best for Planetary and Lunar Viewing: 90mm to 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain
These compact scopes deliver exceptionally sharp, high-contrast views of the moon and planets. Their long focal length provides high magnification naturally. They’re also very portable.
Best for Deep-Sky on a Budget: 130mm Newtonian Reflector
Often sold on a simple equatorial mount, this scope provides a large aperture at a very low entry price. It’s a fantastic way to start hunting galaxies without spending alot.
Best for Families & Casual Use: 70mm to 90mm Alt-Azimuth Refractor
These are the classic, user-friendly telescopes. They’re light, quick to set up, provide nice bright views, and require no maintenance. Perfect for spontaneous moon gazing.
Best for Astrophotography (Entry-Level): Small Refractor on a Go-To Equatorial Mount
Astrophotography is a deep, expensive hobby. A solid start is an 80mm ED refractor on a robust, motorized equatorial mount (like the Sky-Watcher HEQ5). This combo can handle both visual and imaging.
Essential Accessories You’ll Actually Need
- Better Eyepieces: The ones included are often basic. A good 8-24mm zoom eyepiece or a couple of quality Plossls (like a 25mm and a 10mm) transform the view.
- A Red Flashlight: Preserves your night vision. Never use a white light.
- A Star Chart or App: SkySafari or Stellarium are incredible tools for planning and finding objects.
- A Cheshire Collimator: If you buy a reflector, this tool for aligning the mirrors is a must-have.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a department store telescope: They are almost always under-mounted, with poor optics, and come with misleading claims.
- Starting with too much telescope: A complex, heavy scope will discourage you. Master a simpler one first.
- Neglecting the mount: A $500 optic on a $50 mount is a $50 telescope. It will shake and frustrate you.
- Forgetting about software: Learning the sky is part of the fun. Use apps to help, but also learn to star-hop with a paper map.
Where to Buy and What to Expect
Buy from a dedicated astronomy retailer (like High Point Scientific, Orion Telescopes, or Astronomics). Their staff are knowledgeable, and they sell quality brands. Join a local astronomy club first if you can. Members will let you look through their scopes and offer priceless advice. The community is very welcoming.
Remember, your first telescope is a learning tool. It’s okay to outgrow it. The goal is to start a journey, not buy a forever-instrument. Choose something that matches your current interests and skill level, and get ready to see the rings of Saturn, the cloud belts of Jupiter, and the ghostly glow of distant star clusters with your own eyes.
FAQ Section
What is a good beginner telescope?
A 6-inch Dobsonian reflector or a 90mm refractor on a solid alt-azimuth mount are consistently the top recommendations for new stargazers. They offer great views without being to complicated.
Which telescope is best for viewing planets?
Telescopes with long focal lengths and high contrast perform best. A 5″ Maksutov-Cassegrain or a 4″ refractor will show stunning details on Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.
How much should I spend on my first telescope?
Plan to spend between $300 and $600 for a complete, quality starter kit that won’t disappoint. You can find decent options below $200, but be very cautious. Spending over $1000 as a absolute beginner is often unnecessary.
Can I see galaxies with a beginner telescope?
Yes! From a dark sky location, a 6″ or 8″ Dobsonian can show dozens of galaxies as faint gray smudges. The Andromeda Galaxy is a great first target and is visible even in smaller scopes.
Is a computerized Go-To telescope worth it?
It depends. If you’re frustrated by finding objects or observe under light-polluted skies where stars are scarce for navigation, Go-To is invaluable. If you enjoy learning the sky and have patience, a manual scope is cheaper and very rewarding.
What can I see with a 70mm telescope?
You can see lunar craters in detail, Jupiter’s moons and cloud bands, Saturn’s rings, bright star clusters like the Pleiades, and some of the brighter nebulae (e.g., Orion Nebula). It’s a capable starter aperture.
Why is my telescope blurry?
First, ensure it’s properly focused. If it’s still blurry, the scope might need to cool down to outside temperature (30+ minutes). For reflectors, the mirrors likely need collimation. Also, viewing over rooftops or in heat waves causes bad “seeing” (atmospheric turbulence).